Lisbon deal would weaken our hand

EOIN RYAN MEP (Letters, May 5), while desperately trying to convince voters to support the Lisbon Treaty, effectively gave them the most compelling reason for voting against it.

He pointed out that “there have always been issues of concern to Ireland within a European context”, suggesting that a yes or no vote will not change any of that.

Yes, there are powerful lobby groups in Europe looking at the feasibility of this and that issue, including harmonisation, farming and fishing rights, the rights of workers, women’s rights and other human rights issues like abortion, euthanasia, cloning, etc.